In an attempt to alleviate fear and increase awareness among people, the Forum for Injection Techniques (IFT), India, and Bangalore Diabetes Club jointly launched the first Indian recommendations for best practices in Insulin Injection Technique.

Speaking on the occasion, Dr Munichoodappa explained that patients can inject insulin at specific places in their bodies. "The ideal place to inject insulin would be in the abdominal wall or in the hips or thighs. However, some patients tend to inject insulin in their legs and hands, which is not very advisable," he added.

He also mentioned that continuously injecting insulin in the same area would bolster fat accumulation resulting in poor absorption of insulin.

Generally, patients show more aversion towards injectable insulin and tend to depend on insulin tablets alone. However after a few years, the pancreas, which produces the body insulin, becomes weaker and weaker and may not respond to the tablets.

"Ultimately, patients need to accept the existing injectable insulin. They consider it to be a difficult and painful process saying that they are too old or too sick to take it," said Dr Munichoodappa.